Bureaucracy is our art. We make it with our words, every day. I would argue along with Sophia that lurkers do make that art too, via backchannel. (I have one friend in another fandom who became the best-informed, most-influential lurker ever, strictly over private emails.)
Being a collective is hard work: we have to balance out our individual opinions with the will -- or lack of it -- of everyone else. It can be useful to have ad-hoc advocacy, like the one person who says "Hey! We're going to this movie, at this time, and those who can't make it, sorry." But I don't want permanent leadership among my friends. I mean, they're my friends, and that way lies petty fiefdoms and a whole different kind of stupidity. Being a collective requires a lot of head-checking and butt-sniffing; sometimes giving in when you can see others feel strongly; being cooperative even with the members you don't know well or like very much -- a lot of internal reinforcement and external policing.
You know, I just sort of realized: I view Buffistas as a (very large) family of siblings, or a giant polyamorous marriage, rather than as some kind of town. We're not here because we live next door to each other, or we all care about the water rights or the septic system or the city services we're all sharing. We're here because we care about each other, because we carry meaning, collectively, for each other, and we could all be crammed into a van down by the river and still call it (a really cramped) home.
Maybe it's that viewpoint that makes me feel secure in the ways we deal with our administrivia? I don't know. But I do feel secure, and I'm readying my brainwashing equipment interested in hearing about the metaphor that other people use to describe this place.
Allyson is a treasure. That is all.
With 100 people voting, I would guess (although someone could do stats) that the people who have voting are the active participants rather than the random people registered here.
When I counted votes, I would guess there were 4 or 5 names I didn't know, though I could go back and check that.
By registering, this makes the person a citzen of the Phoenix.
Registering makes one registered. Participating makes one a citizen. Adding a positive contribution to our culture makes one a Buffista.
Participating is posting. Making a positive contribution is making friends, sparking conversation, and adding more happiness than you take away.
Okay - you know the constitution to which you were referring in Lightbulb - that's got to be it's preamble.
I don't mind giving posters a real chance to fit in to the community here. Honestly, what's the worst that can happen--people have to read drivel for a week or so? Hell, I have to face worse in driving to work every day. I believe Allyson may be able to recognize trolls in three posts but I don't think all of us can, which is why I don't mind the talky meat stuff. . IF you'll recall, several people thought Deena was a troll at first, and she has turned out to be a wonderful, amazing member of the community. To me, all the bullshit that this thread can generate is worth it if I get to meet more people like her--or Wolfram, or whoever else has had a rocky beginning and turned out to be great, fascinating folk.
Allyson, I read more than I post. I do an awful lot of catch up, because I want to know what's the what, and the who with the what-now, but I mostly can't keep up in real time. I've been onboard since TTmark1, but folks who've only joined since WX or Phoenix have no idea who the odd person of random postage is. I'm fine with that. I've also contributed financially, and I do have some backchannel and other-board relationships with Phoenix posters. I have a good idea what's going on here, whether I'm actively posting or not. I like to think that my rare comments are relevant, at least, if not overly content-y or full of influence for good, or whatever.
I think of myself as a citizen. But someone who's been posting for the last six--or fewer--months, and who keeps up in Natter and the show threads and music and movies...
Well, they wouldn't think of me as a citizen. "Lurker" is relative, because I go through life-stuff that relegates me to effective lurker status (in fact I'm heading into just such a sitch this next week) for significant periods of time. I'd like to think I don't lose all my "citizen" cred just because I'm not very visible. I'm still reading, I'm still keeping up in B'cy and bulbs, if relevant. I try to contribute my opinions there when a question is open, even if those are the only posts I can make at that time. Is that enough to maintain my citizenship?
I think you're not realizing how many friends you have made and how much you have contributed, Beverly. Your post is not how I see you at all.
That's a relief to hear.
Seriously. I don't feel I do enough, participate enough, do the influence for good enough. In real life, I do a lot of nodding and back-patting, not a lot of talking. It can be difficult to remember that online, no one can see you nod.
Allyson has summed it up for me. And damned eloquently, I might add.
